Back home in Bolton, Ont., for the summer, Andrew Mangiapane is often reminded of his big accomplishment.

The 22-year-old forward will bump into friends or former classmates and teammates he hasn’t chatted with since completing his climb, since debuting this winter for the Calgary Flames and logging the first 10 of what he hopes will be hundreds and hundreds of appearances at hockey’s highest level.

“Everyone is saying, ‘Congrats’ and saying, ‘That’s unreal.’ They’re all happy for me,” Mangiapane said. “That’s nice to hear. It’s a good feeling.

“With where I came from, I never really thought I would be playing in the NHL. I’ve come a long way. I’ve come so far. Now, I’m just trying to make the next step and make Calgary full-time.”

Mangiapane’s off-season has been longer than most, with his pinch-me campaign ending prematurely due to surgery on his left shoulder in mid-March, the result of what the speedy left-winger describes as a “freak accident.”

Toiling at that time with the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat, Mangiapane was criss-crossing with centre Colin Smith during a five-on-three power-play when he was tripped up by his teammate’s stick.

As he tumbled to the ice, his shoulder popped out of place.

Mangiapane was able to return the joint to its usual position, and the pain subsided in just a few minutes.

Two games later, it happened again.

Doctors determined that surgery was necessary. With both the Flames and the Heat still in the thick of the playoff race, his season was done.

The good news now is Mangiapane’s recovery is right on track, perhaps even a smidge ahead of schedule.

The Flames forward prospect guesstimates his shoulder strength is nearing about 80%.

The goal is to be back on his blades within a month.

“You see little improvements every day, which is great. But it’s just like, ‘Alright, I want to get back on the ice,’ ” Mangiapane said. “I can’t really do much upper-body (training) yet, but I’m still gaining muscle in my legs and still been building up my leg strength. I’m not just sitting at home doing nothing.

“It sucks about my shoulder, but I’m not letting that affect me or letting that be an excuse. I’m trying to give myself the best possible chance to make the team out of camp. That’s my goal.”

The Flames didn’t get a lot of scoring punch from their support cast this past season, and Mangiapane — the only sixth-round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft who has already debuted at the big-league level — will certainly get an opportunity at camp to prove that he can provide more skill and speed to their forward lineup.

The 5-foot-10, 184-lb. up-and-comer is still shooting for his first big-league point but rarely looked like he was in over his head during his 10 outings at the NHL level this winter.

Mangiapane also racked up 21 goals and 25 assists in 39 skates with the Heat, earning an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic but eventually missing out because he was busy with the big club. (He was the leading point-producer for the Flames farm team despite playing 20-some fewer games than most of his minor-league pals.)

If not for the season-ending surgery, No. 88 likely would have been back at the Saddledome for another audition as injuries piled up in the final few weeks of the schedule.

“I think I still have a lot to show and a lot to prove, but I would say my confidence has grown a lot because of those 10 games,” Mangiapane said. “Obviously, that was my goal — to play in the NHL. Just doing that, I guess, fulfilled some part of my dream. Now, it’s more about making the team and staying there, right? But this season, it was unbelievable. I have a lot more to show, but getting those 10 games and seeing the lifestyle and being with the guys around the room and just the whole NHL experience, it was unbelievable for me.

“You have a few buddies who have played in the NHL, and they tell you all the stories … Living it myself, it was all true. I don’t really know how to explain it — it’s just an unreal feeling being up there.”

ICE CHIPS

According to multiple reports, Glen Gulutzan will be moving up the road to become an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers. The 46-year-old Gulutzan was bench boss for the Flames for the past two seasons before being fired April 17 and replaced by Bill Peters.

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